Mark "iBLASTinside" B.'s Profile

This Atlanta institution offers the best beef in the South for Gay men.

While women will pass into the door, Swinging Richards is a Gay bar and it makes no bones about it.

Recently I witnessed women upset because the bar refused to admit them (no bachelorette or bachelor parties allowed). As the girls argued with the doorman, one of the beefy dancers passed and a girl asked if the rumor was true that a most dancers were straight.

He answered yes.

She asked whether he would prefer to dance for her or men.

"Oh, I'd much rather dance for guys," the dancer replied as her jaw hit the floor. "Girls never tip well. Guys always take care of me."

Many dancers are straight, bi, curious or heteroflexible. However, you won't care.

This bar isn't a place for anything other than to get up close and personal with a fantasy. Many of the men here learn how to provide that fantasy -- for a price.

The men are hot, hot and hot. The men take good care of themselves (although far too many of them smoke). You will find all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and endowments. Generally, the men start around 21 years old and go as old as late 30s. Many men are muscular from very beefy to rather tight and toned.

Cover on most nights is $10, although there's no cover on Tuesday before midnight and Wednesday night is $5. Keep in mind that parking is always $3 but the lot is well lit and manned. Friday and Saturday nights are the obvious choice for the best nights when the most men are working.

The place is well ventilated but Wednesday offers smoke-free nights, for those of us wanting a little less fog and stench.

The main room features a nice stage down the middle with two bars -- one to the right as you enter and one at the very back. The drinks are expensive but generous. And what goes for top shelf other places is well here (for example, Smirnoff is the well vodka).

The stage will support six dancers but depending on the number of dancers on shift and the crowd, as few as two might be on stage.
Dancers perform three songs. The first in their "outfit of choice." Each dancer gives off a vibe.

One guy with a beautiful ass comes in baseball gear constantly even with black grease paint under his eyes. Another does the soccer get up. A New Jersey homeboy styles his beanie. And oddly enough, one Latin from Florida does boot-scooting stomping in leather cowboy boots and jeans. Others offer up normal, everyday clothing. Usually they're all without shirts.

Upon the second song, the dancers shift positions and will remove their pants. Health code requires shoes at all times. Underwear choices tend to be fun to watch -- from jocks to Diesel to Underoos to boxers.

The third song shifts dancers another position and, for bigger boys and those with confidence in their bodies, the underwear comes off. If the dancers seem shy, they're not. They're waiting for more money.

At any point during the three songs, bring a dollar to the stage. Each dancer wears one or two armbands. Fold and tuck the dollar into the armband. Generally, the more money made the first two songs, the more likely a dancer will get naked on the third. Additionally, bringing money to them will give you a glimpse.

Going to see dancers multiple times during a set does wonders and will get attention.

In the back is the VIP Room. Men only can get in for another $10 cover. Dancers hang out here and the lap dances are a bit more intimate (you're supposed to keep your hands above the waist but you get to touch the goods).

VIP is worth the extra cost to spend a little time chatting with the dancers and determining whether you might want to invest in a private dance. Private dances work like this. You pay a certain amount to the "house" (meaning Swinging Richards) and a certain amount to the dancer. Standard fees follow:

15 minutes: $40 house, $100 dancer
30 minutes: $65 house, $200 dancer
60 minutes: $125 house, $400 dancer (includes a bottle of champagne)

On many nights, two-for-one VIPs are offered. This applies only to the house portion of the pricing so you get 30 minutes for $40 or an hour for $65. Full price for the dancer still applies. And dancers expect to be paid.

You should discuss what will occur with your dancer if you choose to purchase private time. Each dancer will allow different choices but full on intercourse is never an option. Some will kiss, several won't. Some might allow you to just orally "worship" their body while others restrict it. Don't expect much for the 15-minute session.

Swinging Richards is great fun, generally upscale and everyone expects to be tipped. It's costly. So expect to drop at least $100 but bring more if you want attention from the dancers. Enjoy your night, have a good time and enjoy the fantasy while it (and your money) lasts.

A LOT OF POTENTIAL BUT NO PAY OFF

I normally pay $15 to get in now that I have a membership card. A lot of details about Manifest on its website. Its open only certain times and it has a membership fee that can be pretty steep -- I think I paid $25 the first time in. Then again, the other night, it was only $5. If you're on the mailing list and know the password, you get $5 off to get in. Manifest does take your ID and record your information but claims the membership list is private. Additionally, the access is behind two locked doors that have to be buzzed in, therefore it's more secure.

It is a lot cleaner than Inserection and has more advantages. Up front is a well lit lounge room with comfortable chairs, a cyber space with computers and a high-definition television playing porn. It has kind of a Asian feel, very Zen.

There's also a nice bathroom (only one room with a door that locks, but it does include a seat) and a urinal. There's also a soda fountain, free, with diet soda, PowerAde and Mountain Dew (among others), condoms, etc.

The back half is called the "matrix" and is darker with music, lasers and lights. It's more warehouse with larger booths that have small stools in many. Most of the gloryhole booths open to two sides (and therefore two options). Nicely enough, there are "hand-holds" (which are basically blocks of wood) and the wood is the thickness of plywood (about a quarter of an inch) and wider than Inserection.

There are a few larger rooms, even one with a mattress for fucking. Most include paper towels and a trash bag in them. These larger rooms lock and people cannot watch or get into them for more private time together. There's also a space in the middle with a sling. I've seen the sling occupied twice. Once with a sloppy, ugly old man. Once with an incredibly hot guy. There's a second sling underneath the adult theater area near the smoking room.

There's this "alley" and a jail bar space where I've been sucked through in the open as well. One incredibly useless space is set up like an adult theater, but of all the times I've been there, no one seems to hang out there. Then there's a stinky smoking area in back (they claim it's well ventilated, but it's not).

Manifest is right down from a twink club called "Jungle" and when that closes, chances are you might catch some of those cream-filled boys looking to hook up since they didn't get any there. But Manifest is also on the opposite side of the complex of a bathhouse called Eros, which I hear is screwing heaven but I have yet to try out.

I love the potential of Manifest but I've got to tell you the last three times I've been, the results rank as worse than disappointing. It's been downright sad. I don't know how much longer this place can stay in business. The men wandering the space are picky as hell and getting laid or even a decent blowjob is close to impossible. I expect Manifest to vanish soon enough unless they take a different marketing approach soon or reduce the pricing.

Manifest offers private parties, which is where it probably makes all the money to stay in business (all outlined on its website). I wish it would consider setting itself apart from Eros, Inserection and Flex with something more definitive and better pricing.

ENJOYABLE SEXUAL FUN FOR BI, GAY AND CURIOUS

There's two spaces involved at this Inserection with two separate entrances. Upstairs is the "store" area where you can purchase porn, adult toys, legal pot, etc. This review focuses on downstairs or the basement area. You cannot get between the two areas without exiting the building and re-entering. When you re-enter the downstairs sex booths area, the "upstairs" part is separate from the store.

$10 cover to get in 24/7 except for a period on Monday mornings, 10-2 a.m., when it's closed.

The space entrance is in the basement of adult store, behind it. There's additional parking behind the Taco Cabana next door.

Inside, there are several paired up gloryhole booths with short benches and videos (which are normally ignored). Gloryholes are generally shaped like super-sized twinkies so different heights can be accommodated. But the MDF wood is about an an inch thick so good fucking can be tough. Six or so booths aren't paired up for more "private" action without being watched but the booths are no larger.
You will not be harassed but occasionally a cleaning guy will go through and might seem a little irritated.

Dark with throbbing XM satellite music played with dance lights in space. A larger room with nice sofa that generally no one sits in. Just off of there is a small "dark room" that used to be darker but now has lights in there. Sometimes guys feel each other up and occasionally sucking occurs here. Rarely fucking (it did when it was completely dark).

Bathroom with two locking doors but no seats on the toilets. Locker room and showers that no one ever uses. Drink and snack machines that costs cash; no diet sodas in the drink machine. Ms. Pac Man and other video games (strangely enough).

Pay cash to get in and receive a card with a barcode  on it that will allow you through a turn-style; you will be asked for your initials. Used to have to show ID but no information was ever recorded. You can purchase poppers, lube and condoms.

Warning that despite the labels, I do not believe that the poppers are legitimately from the place they claim to be. As someone who enjoys his poppers and knows which ones he likes and does not like, the ones I have purchased here have always been overpriced, never fresh and never the quality of those bought from other sources.

Upstairs area accessed via stairs down a hallway. There you will find four unreserved room. Coming up the stairs to the right will be a very large room with basically a king-size bed. From there, going around the room counter-clockwise, you'll find two medium-sized rooms with queen-sized beds each and then a small room with a full-size bed. All rooms have doors that lock. Continuing on, there's a bathroom (the best and most private) and a dark hallway. Four sofas line the room.
Since adding the upstairs area, the vibe has changed significantly.

Lately (Spring 2011) the crowd has turned distinctly top-heavy. Good news for bottoms, bad news for me. I hear of bottoms now leaving there after multiple men. What's happening is bottoms are getting choosy. So what happens is even the ugly one are thinking they can get the hot, hot, hot tops and, in some cases, they can.

One day in March 2011 (I kid you not) a very, very bad man dressed in woman's clothes (with a wig and makeup) wandered through the place. I guess I'll call her a crossdresser, but she didn't give it much effort. It looked like she was the only bottom in the entire place. I saw that thing get more than I could imagine. She'd pull her pantyhose and panties down for anyone and take a seat. She got a lot. Not me.

Women (real ones) will occasionally wonder in with a guy. The interesting thing is they will usually be followed around by a large group of the folks there hoping to join in on some bi action. So usually one is choice and the three go into a room upstairs or the couple will leave.

With the Inserection turning so top-heavy and the bottoms getting picky, it's difficult to get any good action here. However, it remains one of the better places to visit. I still use it, but attempt to make sure others are visiting at the same time via Craigslist ads or Quick Connect Ads on other websites.

The crowd is a good mix of African American, Latino, Caucasians and occasionally some Asians. Generally, bears, twinks, normals, married men and business men can be found. Age range is mid-20s to 70s (yes, I said 70s). Bareback is common but not assumed. Plenty of condoms come out.

Wednesdays are never good. Mondays, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons are best.

BLISS PROVES TO BE A BIG MISS

I received a pass to visit the newest offering in adult entertainment for Atlanta. A local "gentleman's club" decided to convert at night on Wednesday through Saturday to male dancers from the ordinary titty bar. Good thing, I thought. Atlanta currently had two offerings: BJ Roosters and Swinging Richards. Seems to me this town could use a third (and a forth).

When I drove by to see the line waiting on grand opening night Friday, Aug. 19, it worried me a little, especially considering my arrival time around 10:30 -- seemingly felt like I was there for the early bird special. But I decided to wait it out. As I began, it became immediately apparent the night might be a bust as men exiting the club in droves suggested those on queue not enter.

"The dancers are tragic," one would say. "And I think the air conditioner is broken."

After a few more such statements by those exiting, the men in front of us disappeared and I suddenly stood at the industrial doors awaiting the straight bouncer's go to enter. After a stop at the booth where I wouldn't need to pay, the hallway seemed like some clash between Greco-Roman and Polynesian designer into the stadium that can only be described as 1970s Love Boat meets LED lighting.
Three stages (the main with two satellites) featured what they called dancers and, off to the right side, in some weird configuration of what could have been a good idea, was a glass shower stall. With complete indifference to the crowd around them, four African American twinks with Speedo trunks or similar underwear writhed to the music. As much as they ignored the crowd, the crowd ignored them.

No dick in sight.

VIP areas appeared to be up behind to either side of the entry with velvet ropes and more straight, Guido bouncers guarding the locations.

What other dancers that wandered the floor offered the same thin, twinkish appeal. A vast majority of the dancers working were African American. In fact, in my time there, I saw one Caucasian. I never saw a Latin or Asian -- the two of my personal favorites that always earn extra tips from me. Body builds were universally thin and six packs were mostly behind the bar in the form of beer.

Indeed, the air conditioning seemed not to work and the flow of the room proved to be stagnant. Getting a drink from anyone would be close to impossible. The next set began and another group of African American indifferent men wiped the poles down for your sanitation protection before proceeding (not kidding). This began to worry me that the dancers carried some disease that required protection from one another, even though they'd never dropped trou.

And so I dropped out. My time there limited, but now I knew. Miss Bliss in Atlanta. If you want to get cash raped by strippers in Atlanta, stick to what's there: BJ Roosters and Swinging Richards.